"We want to conceive more concrete and technical (solutions) through real cooperation, but we have (deliberated) the substances. We are facing the same challenges in the world," Mahfud said during a visit to Indonesia's Seroja Heroes Cemetery here on Thursday.
The coordinating minister informed that some of the national challenges that he discussed with Ramos-Horta were post-COVID-19, global development and geopolitics, and the consolidation of democracy challenges.
"The pandemic is a natural challenge that plagued the entire world. (The pandemic) is over for now, but we need to cooperate to ensure (the same disaster) will not repeat or, if another occurs (in the future), will be less destructive," he said.
Mahfud said that the second challenge is related to the global development and geopolitics issues, as well as warfare that can disrupt international relations.
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He pointed out that the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict has caused fluctuations in the prices of basic necessities and has thereby, affected the global economy.
"The third issue is the consolidation of democracy in many parts of the world. We need to develop this together, yet (we are also facing) challenges on this aspect, such as digital dictatorship," the coordinating minister said.
Besides deliberating national challenges, he said that most aspects discussed during the meeting pertained to bilateral protocols, along with concrete follow-up actions that need to be finalized.
Mahfud also conveyed President Joko Widodo's invitation to Ramos-Horta to visit Jakarta to further deliberate on technical and substantive matters related to the bilateral relations between Indonesia and Timor Leste.
"Those aspects are what we have discussed now, and we will continue the discussion later in Jakarta," the coordinating minister said.
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Translator: Putu Indah S, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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